Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Thursday, August 30, 2012
The stories in My Darling YOU
These are the titles of the stories in my ebook My Darling You. Read some comments I have made on the stories by clicking on the links
The Santa Picture
The Empty Jam Jar
A Caribbean Princess
The Search
Now you may well ask why I have not commented on the other stories.
I have no answer to that. If you have read the stories and would like to interview me I'll gladly answer your questions. Meanwhile, I continue to wonder about their genesis. The muse is very fickle and sometimes obscure
Read some good (unsolicited ) reviews of the book on the page
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007U78HEC
Please support me by buying a copy. I think you will enjoy the stories
Thanks
Sunday, August 26, 2012
History anyone?
I am having a bit of trouble deciding whether some of my stories set in the 70s and 80s qualify as 'historical'. What exactly is the time frame for historical? Anything happening in time past is history, so when can a story be classified as historical?
Realistically, when we see that classification, we think of time long past with characters in history books and significant world periods, like: medieval, Elizabethan or Victorian times. Or, in the Caribbean, we think of Tainos (Arawaks), pirates, slavery, maroons and sugar plantations. People must be dressed in old time clothing and speak old fashioned language.
So, I suppose my 70s and 80s stories would be modern, but definitely not contemporary as there are no cellphones nor the host of other technological devices which are now so commonplace.
My ebook My Darling You Get it on amazon
Friday, August 24, 2012
Who Are These People?
Like many other persons who teach writing fiction courses, I advise my students to make detailed character sketches for the persons they put in their stories. This is a must for the protagonists and any other significant characters in the story.
We go down the usual check lists : name (nickname if any); age; physical description; primary relationship(s) MOTIVATION etc
You know the list. As a writer/creator you should know every aspect of your characters' lives. This will help if you run into a roadblock in the story-knowing how your character responds to various situations etc.
Good advice, but not all writers write in the same way.
My characters tend to be born whole. I don't have to work at creating a back story, they come with it. I often find that as I write I am following the character with great interest to find out just what it is they are planning and will get up to next and they tell me why. Once I know what it is I want to say, I can start writing and trust the characters to do their thing. Characters even force their way into my stories. I find that these are usually very interesting persons. They very often add another dimension to the story. (see my earlier post on this blog at http://hazeldeebooks.blogspot.com/2012/04/my-favourite-story-in-my-darling-you-4.html
I tell my students that they need to know the 'rules' - i.e. what usually works for writers, but not to be so hard bound by the 'lessons' that they stifle their own creativity. The guidelines work for some, but not for everybody.
See my ebook of short stories My Darling You at
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007U78HEC
Appreciate your support Please buy a copy
Friday, August 17, 2012
BACK to normal
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| http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007U78HEC |
If you scroll down this blog you will find some insights as to how some of the stories in this ebook came to be written, as well as a couple of free stories.
My favourtie story in the ebook is Emancipation Park. Here's why.
http://hazeldeebooks.blogspot.com/2012/04/my-favourite-story-in-my-darling-you-4.html
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
I didn't know it took so much work
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| http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007U78HEC |
When I published my ebook My Darling You (love stories -sort of) I didn't realize it would take so much work to get people to go to the amazon page and most of all purchase a copy. Four months later, I am learning that it takes a lot of work, especially as a new comer, to get noticed. I am now knee deep in using social media, making contacts here and there, writing blog entries, begging sites to list my book etc. - all of which takes away time from writing. But that's life. If I succeed, my pocket will be heavier and perhaps, next book, I can hire a service to do some of this for me.
Most useful have been the writers groups on Linkedin. I have got very solid advice from my groups about what to do to promote my ebook
ALSO
Here's very useful advice from smashwords for writers wanting to publish an ebook at www.smashwords.com.
Secrets to Ebook Publishing Success (Smashwords Guides) is also available freee at amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Publishing-Success-Smashwords-ebook/dp/B007P8H80A/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1344939941&sr=1-1&keywords=Secrets+to+Ebook+Publishing
Check it. It's free and remember you don't need to own a kindle to read ebooks. Check the amazon page for a free app which allows you to read ebooks on your PC
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Another way to sell/buy ebooks
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| http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007U78HEC |
Here's how you could get to buy my 'ebook' if you do not have a USA credit card facility to order online.
Some days ago ,I posted on Linkedin my frustration at poor sales of my ebook despite very
good reviews. There were many useful replies suggesting ways of finding my
niche and getting more contacts and sales.
In response to one of the suggestions to sell to friends,
acquaintances, church buddies etc, I had responded that I live in Jamaica and many
persons had said to me that although they would love to buy the ebook, they did
not have the foreign credit facility to purchase books via a USA credit card.
Here is my respondent's great reply:
"To get over the problem of foreign credit facilities (if you have access to foreign credit facilities) have you considered taking orders yourself and then via amazon.com you can 'buy' a copy as a gift for someone else!"
Very good idea, IF
I myself had a credit card facility BUT
it occurred to me that this is something a book store like Bookophilia in Jamaica could take on.
Persons could go to the bookstores and ask them to order Hazel
Campbell's ebook ,My Darling You (love stories –sort of ), pay them what they
work out as the cost and they would then order it from amazon and 'gift' it to the
person ordering. On the amazon page, the purchaser is allowed to send the book
as a gift to someone's kindle or computer You don't have to own a Kindle to
read the ebook since there is a free download which allows you to read ebooks
on your computer. Instant download,by the time you get home the book would be
there for you to read.
This is just one step up from ordering physical books.(cheaper too) I wonder
if anybody has thought of this possibility. Please let me know if it exists.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Left or right brain? Find out
Which side of your brain do you use more? Take this test, it may help you determine how to approach writing. I am definitely on the right.Click on the link at the end of the box.
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